The end of the start. After Akira finally faces Sai over the internet (and, in a funny episode, he discovers Hikaru is in an internet cafe, but catches him with the Shonen Jump website instead of the go program), and he finally feels free to take the pro exam (and pass).

Hikaru finally understands that he has to do more in order to keep up with Akira, and he's now checking out his options - after a discussion with Kayo's first, who does a bit of reverse psychology trick on him, Hikaru ends up choosing to go for the Insei test. Of course, he cannot do basic stuff like recording his own game, but there's yet another learning opportunity.

I think by now Hikaru finally starts to grow. While there's less action, there's a bit more character development. Hikaru grows under our eyes. Finally, the author found her voice, I think.